ROK vs NNDM vs PTC vs MKSI

For growth investors, Nano Dimension Ltd.

(NNDM) is the stronger pick with 77. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). PTC Inc. (PTC) offers the better valuation at 24. 3x trailing P/E (19. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PTC Inc. (PTC) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the cheapest at 24. 3x versus MKS Inc. at 68. 8x. On forward P/E, PTC Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) delivered a total return of +74. 6%, compared to -72. 3% for Nano Dimension Ltd. (NNDM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MKSI returned +750. 6% versus NNDM's -97. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 96β versus MKS Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning MKSI is approximately 174% more volatile than PTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Nano Dimension Ltd. (NNDM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 173% for MKS Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nano Dimension Ltd.

(NNDM) is pulling ahead at 77. 3% versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PTC Inc. grew EPS 94. 9% year-over-year, compared to -211. 4% for Nano Dimension Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NNDM leads at 32. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

PTC Inc.

(PTC) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 8% net margin versus -98. 0% for Nano Dimension Ltd. — meaning it keeps 26. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PTC leads at 35. 9% versus -89. 7% for NNDM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PTC leads at 83. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, PTC Inc.

(PTC) trades at 19. 2x forward P/E versus 185. 0x for Nano Dimension Ltd. — 165. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PTC: 31. 9% to $194. 80.

In this comparison, ROK (1.

2% yield), MKSI (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. NNDM, PTC do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Rockwell Automation, Inc.

(ROK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 2% yield, +341. 0% 10Y return). Nano Dimension Ltd. (NNDM) carries a higher beta of 1. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ROK: +341. 0%, NNDM: -97. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ROK (Industrials) and NNDM (Technology) and PTC (Technology) and MKSI (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ROK is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NNDM is a small-cap high-growth stock; PTC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MKSI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. ROK pays a dividend while NNDM, PTC, MKSI do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.